Large crowd expected for Phil Green memorial service in Larkspur

Preparations are underway for a celebration of life ceremony Saturday in honor of Phil Green, a retired Corte Madera and Larkspur police chief who died Feb. 10 at the age of 72.

The celebration is taking place from 1 to 3 p.m. in Redwood High School gymnasium at 395 Doherty Drive in Larkspur.

Green, who lived in Novato, retired as chief of the Twin Cities police force in 2010, ending a law enforcement career that spanned a half-century.

Central Marin Police Lt. Theo Mainaris said Green's family is anticipating anywhere from 150 to 300 attendees, but that it could be an even larger gathering.

"We would encourage people to carpool because we do expect a number of people," Mainaris said.

People can park in both the east and west lots at the high school and in the overflow parking lot at San Andreas High School. There's also parking down the road from the high school near the baseball field and at the police authority's headquarters.

Green started his career at the San Rafael Police Department in 1961. In 1977, he beat out a field of nearly 100 candidates to become chief of the Corte Madera Police Department. Two years later, he took over the Larkspur Police Department as well, and in 1980 was named first chief of the consolidated Twin Cities Police Authority.

The department became the Central Marin Police Authority this year after merging with the San Anselmo Police Department.